One of the legendary places on the Gulf Coast is the Flora-Bama Lounge, located on the border between Florida and Alabama. Ths place has been around since 1964; and became a legend over time, with professional athletes and rock musicians among the many thousands who have drunk, sung, watched the shows, and in general wiled away the hours as Southerners know how to do it. It's a bunch of bars and oyster bars, and a generally rowdy place. This is on the wilder part of the gulf Coast, often styled the Redneck Riviera!
Every year there's the annual Mullet Toss, in which participants attempt to toss a dead fish from the mark in Florida across into Alabama। This year it's between April 27th and 30th.
And there's the Polar Bear Swim, each winter when the water is pretty brrrr! enough.
At other times of the year, try the coffee-flavored Bushwacker!
Jimmy Buffet recorded a song in honor of the Flora-Bama, "Bama Breeze." It had been destroyed by Hurricane Ivan, but made a comeback.
Wear your swimmers or bikini; there's no dress code. That sort of thing is left to the uptight dwellers of the North. The music is loud, suitable for dancing, singing along, or just doing your own thing.
The ceiling is decorated with bras cast off by girls who enjoyed the disinhibition that goes with this carefree setting. Who knows what will transpire on the Redneck Riviera!
The Flora-Bama can be reached either by going through Foley and Orange Beach, or from the east through Pensacola.
Brings back memories....the Florabama was more than just a Gulf Coast dive: it was a destination in itself. Destin snd PCB can't compare to the Florabama near Gulf Shores.
ReplyDeletesounds like a great place
ReplyDeleteIt's now on my bucket list. Sounds like Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe in Key West, but not as commercialized.
ReplyDeleteI like the Florabama, though I never went for the mullet toss.
ReplyDelete